Royal recognition for children's bowel and bladder charity

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal spent Friday 4th March visiting ERIC at the charity's offices in Kingswood, Bristol.

ERIC’s Chief Executive Juliette Randall introduced The Princess Royal to the charity’s employees, trustees, supporters and children and families that the charity has helped.

Juliette Randall said: "It was an absolute pleasure to receive The Princess Royal at ERIC. She met our passionate team and learned about our work helping children, teenagers and their families manage continence conditions so they can live happier and healthier lives.”

ERIC is a national charity based in Bristol since 1988. The charity provides expert support, information and understanding to children and teenagers and enables parents, carers and professionals to help them establish good bowel and bladder health. The charity operates a helpline, trains professionals, campaigns to improve care for continence problems, and runs an online shop.

Soon after her arrival, The Princess Royal took part in a discussion about childhood continence with the ERIC Nurse Brenda Cheer, the chair of ERIC’s Professional Advisory Committee Dr Anne Wright, ERIC’s founder Dr Penny Dobson MBE, and Dr Carol Joinson, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Psychology at the University of Bristol.

The Princess Royal also met members of ERIC’s Children’s Panel - young people who have experienced bowel and bladder problems and provide advice to the charity.

She also spoke to children and families who the charity has helped, including Amy Attrill - mum to five year old Kane who suffers with severe constipation. Kane showed The Princess Royal how to play ERIC’s Let’s Talk About Poo game – an interactive educational game that teaches children about good bowel health.

Amy said "We’ve been through some really difficult experiences over the last three years with Kane’s constipation: taking him in and out of hospital and seeing him in a lot of pain, so doing something special like meeting The Princess Royal is such a well-deserved treat for him.”

The Princess Royal ended the visit by cutting a celebratory cake to mark the re-branding of ERIC and the launch of its enhanced helpline and information service. She was then presented with a small replica of the cake by 5 year-old Euan, whose family has been supported by the charity.

Euan’s mum Clare said: "I was so proud to see Euan give the cake to The Princess Royal. It’s brilliant that her visit has helped shine a spotlight on a charity doing amazing things for children and teenagers with problems that most people avoid talking about. ERIC doesn’t just provide a helpline, I know it can be a lifeline too.”

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